1981 Franklin OM Brazilian Rosewood

Nick Kukich began his long and storied career as a guitar builder in the early 1970s. He was among the first builders to recreate Martin’s OM-28 during the dark years of sliding guitar quality in the late 1960s and 1970s, and his instruments have been highly regarded throughout the fifty-or-so year span of his career. 

This example is an OM-28 style guitar built with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, scallop-braced spruce top, vintage style 28 body accents and a 25.4” OM scale. The neck has a remarkably comfortable carve that is deep and round, which tricks your hand into thinking it’s wide. The nut actually measures a hair wider than 1-5/8”, but it feels much more like 1-11/16” due to the .910” depth at the first fret. Combined with the string’s spreading to 2-3/8” at the saddle and a rounded 12” fretboard radius, the neck feel is remarkably appealing. 

The guitar has survived the years quite well. It’s had a pair of top cracks glued and cleated, and the odd brace end reglued, but it’s otherwise quite issue-free. The original lacquer has aged nicely, and the neck – which is without adjustable truss rod – has remained quite true. There is metal reinforcement in the neck, similar to Martin guitars built at the same time. 

Playability is excellent, frets show light wear but play cleanly, and the action is set at 5-6 64ths at the 12th fret. 

A warmly voiced, well-balanced OM that hits the sweet-spot between overtones and fundamental. Trebles are strong and rounded, bass is open and dark, midrange is nicely supportive.